Wattled ibis
| Wattled Ibis | |
|---|---|
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| In Ethiopia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | Ciconiiformes (disputed)
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| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | B. carunculata
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| Binomial name | |
| Bostrychia carunculata (Rüppell, 1837)
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The Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata) is a species of bird in the Threskiornithidae family. It is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and is found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Description
A large, dark ibis with white shoulder patches. Also eye is white. Thin wattle is hanging from the broad bill base. These two features, and no white line on cheek, distinguish this ibis from the close relative Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash). The average length is 60 cm.
Range and habitat
May occur all over Ethiopian highlands at altitude range of 1500 m to highest moorlands of 4100 m. It has also been recorded from the coast of Eritrea. It prefers meadows and highland river courses. It is often found in rocky places and cliffs (where it roosts and breeds), but also in open country, cultivated land, city parks and olive tree (Olea africana) and juniper (Juniperus procera) mixed forests. It has also become well adapted to anthropic landscapes and conditions; during the rainy season it can be seen in the hotel lawns of downtown Addis Ababa. The wattled ibis is common to abundant.
General habits
Wattled Ibis is a gregarious species, often flocking in groups of 30 to 100, but it can be seen feeding alone or as pairs, as well. It forages in open grasslands, marshes, open alpine moorlands, croplands and forest glades. When feeding it walks about methodologically, probing the ground regularly. It feeds with worms, insect larvae, and small invertebrates; occasionally frogs, snakes and mice. Sometimes it is seen with herds of domestic animals, searchind dung for beetles. It roosts singly or in pairs in trees, in groups on rock cliffs, often at sites of breeding colonies. Wattled Ibis is predominantly sedentary, undertaking only local, altitudinal movements.
Breeding habits
Wattled Ibis usually nests in small to large colonies on rocky cliffs, over bushes hanging in the walls, but it has been reported to nest also singly on top of trees or ledges of buildings. Few colonies are known above 3000 meters, and those in trees at lower elevations (1800 – 2000 m) in Lake Awasa. In the Bale Mountains there are nesting colonies of 500 birds, or more. Nest is a platform of branches and sticks, lined with grass and strips of bark; sometimes at high and cold altitudes located to east for maximum exposure to morning sun. Wattled Ibis breeds along a broad period: from March to July; occasionally in December, during the dry season. It lays 2-3 rough shelled eggs which are dirty white in color.
Threats
No reduction in numbers nor any obvious threat have been reported. Therefore, it is not considered to be of conservation concern, since the population is rather large.
References
- Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes justification for why this species is Least Concern
- Jose Luis Vivero Pol, 2006, A Guide to Endemic Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Shama Books. ISBN 1-931253-13-7